Aging Delaying Material for Fruits and Vegetables and Producing Method Thereof

ABSTRACT

A producing method of an aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables having steps of: adding and blending a silicon material, the silicon material has porous structures or layer structures; gradually adding an ethylene reducing material and water or solvent in the silicon material during blending; and gradually removing the water or the solvent during blending until the water or the solvent being partially removed from the silicon material and the ethylene reducing material to form a dry mixing powder which is able to postpone fruits or vegetables become over mature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention is related to an aging delaying material, especially to a packing material for delaying fruits and vegetables aging, over mature or decaying.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vegetables play an important part in human health. It has becomes a popular study in the modern society since fruits and vegetables provide much benefits.

Food storage equipment like a refrigerator is very helpful to preserve fruits and vegetables. But for the purpose of displaying in the market or delivery, the fruits and vegetables are normally packed in plastic bags which increasing decay problem thereof. Although there has some conventional multiple layered packing materials that try to extend a preservation time of fruits or vegetables, but these existed packing materials have worse aging delaying function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the disadvantages and shortcomings of the conventional packing materials such as insufficient fresh preserving ability, the present invention provides a producing method of an aging delaying material has steps comprising of:

adding and blending a silicon material, the silicon material has porous structure or layer structure;

gradually adding an ethylene reducing material and water or solvent in the silicon material during blending; and

gradually removing the water or the solvent during blending until the water or the solvent being partially removed from the silicon material and the ethylene reducing material to form a dry mixing powder, wherein

-   -   at least partial surface, pores of the porous structures or         layer structures of the silicon material are coated or filled         with the ethylene reducing material to form the dry mixing         powder.

Thus, achievements and advantages of the present invention are listed as below:

1. The silicon material in present invention comprises porous or layer structure. The porous or layer structure is capable of absorbing or catching ethylene released from fruits or vegetables.

2. The ethylene reducing liquid spray is gradually added in to the silicon material during blending, thus the ethylene reducing material may be separated uniformly into the pores of the porous structure or the layer structures of the silicon material. The ethylene absorbing, catching or reacting abilities of the present invention is largely improved.

3. By blending/water removing process stated as above, the present invention may be able to use less quantity of ethylene reducing materials comparing to conventional packing materials since the ethylene reducing materials are mounted on the surface of the silicon materials and having a large reacting surface with ethylene. The ethylene absorbing, catching or reacting abilities of the present invention is largely improved.

4. The present invention has at least 1.5 times delaying ability compares to the conventional packing material for fruits or vegetables preservation.

5. The blend-promoting material of the present invention may not only improve the uniformity of blending process but also provides colors or light shielding for final products of the present invention.

6. The present invention may be produced as multiple layer films or bags which comprising a covered layer and an ethylene reducing layer. The covered layer may cover the ethylene reducing layer to avoid environmental ethylene or humidity/moisture reacts with the ethylene reducing material in the ethylene reducing layer. The cover layer may prolong storage period of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a producing process flow chart in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a silicon material with porous structure of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a silicon material with layer structure of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a modified silicon material with porous structure of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional schematic view of modified silicon material with layer structure of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the modified silicon material with porous structure of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic view of the modified silicon material with layer structure of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 a is a schematic diagram of the silicon material induces ethylene and humidity/moisture to surfaces of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 b is a second schematic diagram of the potassium permanganate being induced to a water membrane on a packing bag of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 c is a third schematic diagram of the potassium permanganate absorbing, catching or reacting with ethylene in the packing bag of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the packing bag packed fruit inside in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 a is a fruits over mature testing results at day 1 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 b is the fruits over mature testing results at day 7 in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 c is the fruits over mature testing results at day 11 in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of producing method of a aging delaying material for delaying fruits and vegetables aging or over mature in accordance with the present invention has steps comprising of:

(1) adding and blending a silicon material 10, the silicon material 10 may further be blended with a blend-promoting material in advance. The blend-promoting material may be calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), activated carbon or bamboo charcoal.

Harvested fruits or vegetables are continually releasing ethylene, which causes harvested fruits or vegetables aging, over mature or decay. With reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the silicon material 10 is preferred to be a silicon material with porous structure, clay or mixture thereof. Pores 12 of the silicon material 10 or layer structures 13 of the silicon material 10 are capable of capturing or trapping ethylene therein, thus the silicon material 10 may be used to delay fruits or vegetables aging or decaying. The silicon material 10 with layer structure 13 is selected in the preferred embodiment since the layer structure 13 provides more surface areas than the porous structure, the silicon material 10 with layer structure 13 may absorb or capture more ethylene therein.

The blend-promoting material is used to promote the silicon material be blended more uniformly during the blending process. The blend-promoting material may further provide colors for final products of the present invention. For example, calcium carbonate may be used to produce transparent products. Titanium dioxide may be used to produce packing products with white color. The activated carbon or the bamboo charcoal may be used to produce packing products that requiring black color or light shielding function.

(2) adding and blending ethylene reducing material 20 with water or solvent into the silicon material 10, where the ethylene reducing material 20 is preferred to form as an ethylene reducing solution with water or solvent. The ethylene reducing solution may be gradually sprayed or dropped into the silicon material 10 during blending. The ethylene reducing material 20 is preferred to be uniformly dispersed into suitable quantity of water or solvent. In the preferred embodiment, the ethylene reducing solution is preferred to be gradually sprayed or dropped into the silicon material 10 so as to increase more the ethylene reducing material 20 being filled into pores 12 or being permeated into layer structures 13 of the silicon material 10. The ethylene reducing material 20 is capable of absorbing, catching, trapping ethylene or reacting with ethylene. The ethylene reducing material 20 may be bromide solution, potassium permanganate, potassium bromide or mixture thereof. The solvent may be methanol, ethanol, acetone or methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). The ethylene reducing material 20 may be uniformly dispersed or permeated into the silicon material 10 because the ethylene reducing material 20 were sprayed gradually into the silicon material 10.

The ethylene reducing solution may further contain a bacteriostatic agent or an anti-fog agent. The bacteriostatic agent may be a silver ions releasing agent, a zinc ions releasing agent, an organic acid or amine. The anti-fog agent may be a surfactant like nonionic surfactant.

(3) gradually removing the water or the solvent during blending until the water or the solvent is totally or partially being removed from the silicon material 10 and the ethylene reducing material 20 to form a dry mixing powder.

Partial or all surfaces, partial or all pores 12 or partial or all layer structures 13 of the silicon material 10 are coated or filled with the ethylene reducing material 20 during water removing and blending procedure to from the dry mixing powder. Schematic portions of the dry mixing powder are shown as FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The aforementioned water or solvent removing and blending process may use a blending machine, such like a Henschel blender to blends under around 400 RPM. To reduce process time for blending and removing water or solvent, a heating means may be used. The heating means may comprise but not limited to blending under humidity control and/or temperature control at rage of 85° C.˜105° C. A higher blending temperature may reduce processes time to form the dry mixing powder. The dry mixing powder may be directly placed into a permeable bag and place with fruits or vegetables to reduce ethylene released from the fruits or vegetables.

With reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, before or after step (2), a mould-proof material 30 may be added to coat on the surfaces of the silicon material 10 or may further be partially filled in the pores 12 or be inserted in the layer structures 13 of the silicon material 10. In the preferred embodiment, the mould-proof material 30 is blended with the silicon material 10 until water or solvent is totally or partially removed, and then blending with the ethylene reducing solution to form the dry mixing powder by blending process. Thus, the dry mixing powder may be form as a core shell structure or a multiple layered structure as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The mould-proof material 30 may be sorbate like 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt. The mould-proof material 30 may also be mixed with the water or the solvent to form a mould-proof solution. The mould-proof solution is sprayed or dropped into -the silicon material 10 during blending process, and the water or the solvent is gradually removed so the mould-proof material 30 being coated on the surface, pores 12 of the porous structure or layer structure 13 of the silicon material 10.

With reference to FIG. 7 a to FIG. 7 c, in the preferred embodiment, while the potassium permanganate is added in to the silicon material 10, the anti-fog agent may further be added into and be blended with the silicon material 10 to form the dry mixing powder with anti-fog function. In practical use, the dry mixing powder may be used as a filler to mixed with a plastic material, thus to produce a packing bag for packing fruits or vegetables therein. The moisture inside the plastic bag may form a water membrane/film on an inner surface of packing bag. The potassium permanganate in the packing bag tends to migrate to and solutes in the water membrane/film of the surface due to water solubility of the potassium permanganate. The potassium permanganate on the surfaces or near to the surfaces of the packing bag may have more chance to absorbing, catching or reacting with ethylene.

(4) uniformly blending the dry mixing powder with a matrix material. The matrix material may be polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or a gum material.

For instance, the dry mixing powder is blended with the matrix material by a twin screw blending machine and may be formed as but not limited to a film, a bag 50 or a box for packing or containing fruits or vegetables. A foaming gas like propane or butane may further mixed with the dry mixing powder and the matrix material to form a foam bag. The foam bag may further provide a protection function for fruits or vegetables. The foam bag may be mesh-like, thus the foam bag may be applied for fruits or vegetables with difference sizes. Holes of the mesh-like foam bag may further improve air circulation.

The dry mixing powder may further have multiple applications. For instance, the gum material may be blended with the dry mixing powder to form a spray or paint. The spray or paint may apply on surfaces of ordinary packing materials like film, bag or box to provide the ordinary packing materials having fruits or vegetables fresh preservation ability. The gum material may be polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin or Arabic gum. The viscosity of the gum material is around 30˜10000 cps. The gum material may be dissolved into water or solvent to form a gum solution then mixed with the dry mixing powder to form the spray or the paint. The spray or the paint comprises 2˜20wt % of the gum material. Lower viscosity like 30˜500 cps of the gum material may be used as spray form. Higher viscosity like 500˜10000 cps may be used as paints.

The present invention may further be produced as films or bags with multiple layers. The dry mixing powder may be blended with the matrix material to form an ethylene reducing layer. A covered layer without ethylene reducing ability is compressed with the ethylene reducing layer to form a multiple layer films or bags. The covered layer may be but not limited to polyethylene (PE), propylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) or polyethylene terephehalate (PET). The covered layer covers the ethylene reducing layer to prevent ethylene or moisture from environment and extends a preserve/storage time of the multiple layer films or bags.

Embodiment 1

To simplified usage of the present invention, the dry mixing powder is suggested to mixed into the matrix material and produced as plastic pellets. In the first step to produce the plastic pellets, the silicon oxide with porous structure (quantity of the silicon oxide may be 1˜10 wt % of the plastic pellets, preferred with 2˜3 wt %) is blended with titanium dioxide (with 0.2˜2 wt % of the plastic pellets).

Second, 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt (with 0.2˜4.0 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is sprayed on silicon oxide and titanium dioxide during blending, the water of the solution is gradually removed by blending or by using heating means, such like heater or temperature controller.

Third, potassium permanganate (with 2˜8 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is added and is continuously blended until the water removed by blending or assist heating means.

Finally, the bacteriostatic agent solution is added in and is continuously blended until the water is gradually removed to form the dry mixing powder. Use the dry mixing powder as fillers of matrix material for producing the plastic pellets. The plastic pellets may further be produced into films or bags.

Embodiment 2

First, the layered clay (with 1˜10 wt % of plastic pellets, preferred with 3˜5 wt % of plastic pellets) is blended with bamboo charcoal (with 0.2˜2 wt % of plastic pellets).

Second, 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt (with 0.2˜4.0 wt % of the plastic pellets) methyl alcohol solution is sprayed and the methyl alcohol is gradually removed by blending or by using heating means, such like heater or temperature controller.

Third, potassium permanganate (with 2˜8 wt % of the plastic pellets) methyl alcohol solution is added and is continuously blended until the methyl alcohol removed by blending or assist heating means.

Finally, the bacteriostatic methyl alcohol solution and anti-fog methyl alcohol solution are added in and are continuously blended and the methyl alcohol is gradually removed to form the dry mixing powder. Use the dry mixing powder as fillers of matrix material for producing the plastic pellets. The plastic pellets may further be produced into films or bags.

Embodiment 3

First, the porous silicon oxide (with 1˜10 wt % of the plastic pellets, preferred with 2˜3 wt %) is blended with calcium carbonate (with 0.2˜2 wt % of the plastic pellets).

Second, 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt (with 0.2˜4.0 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is sprayed on the porous silicon oxide and calcium carbonate during blending, the water of the solution is gradually removed by blending or by using heating means, such like heater or temperature controller.

Third, potassium permanganate (with 2˜8 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is added and is continuously blended until the water removed by blending or assist heating means.

Finally, the bacteriostatic agent solution is added in and is continuously blended and the water is gradually removed to form the dry mixing powder. Use the dry mixing powder as fillers of matrix material for producing the plastic pellets. The plastic pellets may further be produced into boxes.

Embodiment 4

First, the layered clay (with 1˜10 wt % of plastic pellets, preferred with 3˜5 wt % of plastic pellets) is blended with activated carbon (with 0.2˜2 wt % of plastic pellets).

Second, 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt (with 0.2˜4.0 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is added and is blended with the layered clay and the activated carbon until the water is gradually removed by blending or assisting with heating means.

Third, potassium permanganate (with 2˜8 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is added and is continuously blended until the water removed. Finally, the bacteriostatic solution is added and is continuously blended until the water is removed to form the dry mixing powder. Use the dry mixing powder as fillers of matrix material for producing the plastic pellets. The plastic pellets may further be produced into foam bags.

Embodiment 5

First, the porous silicon oxide (with 1˜10 wt % of the plastic pellets, preferred with 2˜3 wt %) is blended with potassium permanganate (with 2˜8 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution until the water is removed.

Second, 2, 4-hexadienoic acid potassium salt (with 0.2˜4.0 wt % of the plastic pellets) solution is gradually added and is continuously blended until the water is removed by the heating means.

Finally, the bacteriostatic agent solution is gradually added and is blended until the water is removed to form the dry mixing powder. The dry mixing powder is mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to form the spray or the paint.

To prove the function of dry mixing power, aging delaying test results of organic cucumbers are as followings. Results show that the present invention is proven to delay harvested fruits or vegetable aging, over mature or decaying at room temperature (˜25° C.). The present invention is able to extend preservation time of fruits and vegetable for delivery, storage or displaying on market shelf.

With reference to FIG. 9 a, organic cucumbers aging delaying test result at day 1 is showed. Organic cucumber samples A, B and C all stay fresh at day 1. The weight of organic cucumber samples A, B and C are respectively 137 g, 160 g and 135 g. The organic cucumber sample A is placed without packed. The organic cucumber sample B is packed by a packing bag produced by the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The organic cucumber sample C is wrapped by a conventional PE film. With reference to FIG. 9 b, weight of organic cucumber samples A, B and C are respectively 93 g, 157 g and 131 g at day 7. The organic cucumber sample A shrinks at the bottom and becomes soft and shows yellow spots on surfaces. The organic cucumber sample B does not show much difference compared with day 1. The organic cucumber sample C shows yellow color at the bottom surface. With reference to FIG. 9 c, the weight of organic cucumber samples A, B and C are respectively reduced as 69 g, 156 g and 130 g at day 11. The organic cucumber sample A shrinks more serious and the original green color totally changes into brown and yellow. The organic cucumber sample B still shows no difference compared to day 1. The organic cucumber sample C rots at the bottom and becomes softer of the texture and the original green color totally changes into brown and yellow.

Thus, achievements and advantages of the present invention are listed as below:

1. The silicon material in present invention comprises porous or layered structure. The porous or layered structure is capable to absorb or catch ethylene that released from fruits or vegetable.

2. The ethylene reducing liquid spray is gradually added in to the silicon material during blending, thus the ethylene reducing material may be separated uniformly into the pores or the layered structures of the silicon material. The ethylene absorbing, catching or reacting abilities of the present invention have largely improved.

3. By blending/water removing process stated as above, the present invention may be able to use less quantity of ethylene reducing materials comparing to conventional packing materials since the ethylene reducing materials are mounted on the surface of the silicon materials and having a large reacting surface with ethylene and uniformly separate in.

4. The present invention has at least 1.5 times delaying ability compares to the conventional packing material for fruits or vegetables preservation.

5. The blend-promoting material of the present invention may not only improve the uniformity of blending process but also provides colors or light shielding for final products of the present invention.

6. The present invention may be produced as multiple layer films or bags which comprising a covered layer and an ethylene reducing layer. The covered layer may cover the ethylene reducing layer to avoid environmental ethylene or humidity/moisture reacts with the ethylene reducing material in the ethylene reducing layer. The cover layer may prolong storage period of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A producing method of an aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables having steps of: adding and blending a silicon material, the silicon material has porous structures or layer structures; gradually adding an ethylene reducing material and water or solvent in the silicon material during blending; and gradually removing the water or the solvent during blending until the water or the solvent being partially removed from the silicon material and the ethylene reducing material to form a dry mixing powder, wherein at least partial surface, pores of the porous structures or layer structures are coated or filled with the ethylene reducing material to form the dry mixing powder.
 2. The producing method of the aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables as claimed in claim 1, wherein the silicon material is blended with a blend-promoting material before being blended with the ethylene reducing material and the water or the solvent; the ethylene reducing material and the water or the solvent are mixed to form an ethylene reducing solution; and the ethylene reducing solution is gradually sprayed and blended with the silicon material until the water or the solvent is partially removed to form the dry mixing powder.
 3. The producing method of the aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dry mixing powder is uniformly blended with a matrix material and is formed as a film, a bag, a foam bag, a box or a foam bag.
 4. The producing method of the aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dry mixing powder is uniformly blended with a matrix material to form as a film, a bag, a foam bag, a box or foam bag.
 5. The producing method of the aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dry mixing powder is uniformly blended with a gum material to form as a spray or a paint.
 6. The producing method of the aging delaying material for fruits or vegetables as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dry mixing powder is uniformly blended with a gum material to form as a spray or a paint.
 7. A aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables comprising a silicon material and an ethylene reducing material, wherein the silicon material has porous structures or layer structures and comprises a porous silicon oxide, clay or mixture thereof; the ethylene reducing material comprises bromide solution, potassium permanganate, potassium bromide or mixture thereof; and at least partial surfaces, porous structures or layer structures of the silicon material are coated or filled with the ethylene reducing material.
 8. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aging delaying material further has a blend-promoting material and a matrix material, the blend-promoting material is calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, activated carbon or bamboo charcoal, the matrix material is polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, or polyethylene terephthalate; and the aging delaying material is formed as a film, a bag, a foam bag or a box.
 9. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claimed in claim 7, wherein the aging delaying material further has a blend-promoting material and a gum material, the gum material is polyvinyl alcohol, gelatin or arabic gum, the blend-promoting material is calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, activated carbon or bamboo charcoal; and the aging delaying material is produced as a spray or a paint.
 10. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claimed in claim 8, wherein the film or the bag has multiple layers having a covered layer without the ethylene reducing material.
 11. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claim in claim 7, wherein the ethylene reducing solution further comprises a bacteriostatic agent or an anti-fog agent; the bacteriostatic agent is a silver ions releasing agent, a zinc ions releasing agent, an organic acid or amine; and the anti-fog agent is a surfactant.
 12. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claim in claim 8, wherein the ethylene reducing solution further comprises a bacteriostatic agent or an anti-fog agent; the bacteriostatic agent is a silver ions releasing agent, a zinc ions releasing agent, an organic acid or amine; and the anti-fog agent is a surfactant like nonionic surfactant.
 13. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claim in claim 8, wherein the ethylene reducing solution further comprises a bacteriostatic agent or an anti-fog agent; the bacteriostatic agent is a silver ions releasing agent, a zinc ions releasing agent, an organic acid or amine; and the anti-fog agent is a surfactant like nonionic surfactant.
 14. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claim in claim 9, wherein the ethylene reducing solution further comprises a bacteriostatic agent or an anti-fog agent; the bacteriostatic agent is a silver ions releasing agent, a zinc ions releasing agent, an organic acid or amine; and the anti-fog agent is a surfactant like nonionic surfactant.
 15. The aging delaying material for fruits and vegetables as claim in claim 14, wherein a mould-proof material is added to coat on the surfaces of the silicon material or partially filled into the pores or the layered structure of the silicon material to form as a core shell structure or a multiple layered structure. 